118 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



short intervals thronghout tlie day, except in windy 

 weatlier, but saving its choicest music for the twihght 

 hours. Its lavish notes are thus associated in my mind 

 with many a calm summer's night on the open broads, 

 the stars shining brightly overhead, and the soft breeze 

 sighing through the rustling reeds, mingled with the 

 hum of insect-life on the water. It is at such times 

 that the song of these marsh nightingales is heard to 

 perfection. All is still around, save those murmuring 

 sounds that seem to lull to sleep ; the barking of the 

 watch-dog has ceased in the distance, and the hoarse 

 croak of the coot or the moorhen harmonises too well 

 with the scene to startle with its frequent repetition. 

 Presently, as if by magic, the reed beds on all sides are 

 teeming with melody ; now here, now there, first one, 

 then another and another of the reed birds pour forth 

 their rich mocking notes, taken up again and again by 

 others, and still, far away in the distance, the same strain 

 comes back upon the breeze, till one is lost in wonder at 

 their numbers, so startling to the ear of a stranger, so 

 impossible to be estimated at all during the day. About 

 the first week in June, should the weather be fine and 

 still, is the best time to hear these nocturnal warblers ; 

 the sedge birds, however, as earlier breeders, have by 

 this time almost ceased to sing during the night, their 

 young being already hatched. 



I can imagine few things more delightful to the 

 out-door naturalist than his first introduction to the 

 broads by night. The mere escape for a time during 

 the height of summer from the heat and bustle of 

 a city life, might alone repay the trouble of a visit, 

 were there no further attractions in those sights 

 and sounds which have for the naturalist a pecuKar 

 charm. Never, I think, does marsh scenery look more 

 beautiful than on a fijie summer's evening, when 

 even distant objects appear distinct against the clear 



